David B. Hartnett (L) & Peter W.F. Huang (R) sign the MOU
The Metro Atlanta Chamber and the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei (IEAT) signed an agreement Thursday, March 21 that will enhance cooperation between their organizations and benefit their members and the businesses and business organizations they represent.
The agreement, in the form of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two groups, was signed by David B. Hartnett, chief economic development officer at the Chamber, and Peter W.F. Huang, secretary general of IEAT, in a morning ceremony at the Chamber offices on Peachtree Street. Tom Cunningham, the Chamber’s chief economist, and Taipei Mayor Dr. Ko Wen-je served as witnesses to the signing.
The wide-ranging MOU further develops cooperation between the Atlanta metro region and the Taipei region and creates a structure that will allow for closer interaction between the Chamber and the IEAT in the areas of importing and exporting, investment and information sharing. Highlights include agreements to take necessary and feasible steps to promote trade and economic ties between the two organizations; to assist each other in holding trade fairs and promoting products and services; exchanging trade and market information and disseminating that information to their members to help small and medium-size business in the two regions access new markets; and to reinforce bilateral cooperation and further develop third-party markets.
“International trade and investment is critically important not only to our large companies but increasingly more important for our small companies,” said Hartnett after the signing, pointing out that the Chamber has been the business voice of the Atlanta region for more than 150 years and continues to broaden the area’s market reach. ”As we all know, growth comes from small companies, and so we are very committed to that. Cooperation and shared economic development with Taipei are highly important to us.”
Pointing out that the Atlanta region and the Taipei region are both economically vibrant, growing and are known now more so than ever as global hubs, he said he knew the two cities had a long relationship but was surprised to find out recently how long. This year marks the 40th anniversary of their sister city relationship. That relationship, he said, set a foundation for signing the MOU.
“We share numerous companies,” Hartnett said. “Some Atlanta companies are investing in Taipei such as UPS, and some Taipei companies are investing in Atlanta like Maxxis (one of the world’s largest manufacturer of tires of all kinds). We look forward to enhancing our bond in the areas of importing and exporting, inbound and outbound investment and sharing best practices. We also look forward to promoting Taipei as a good place to do business and going to Taipei to tell the Atlanta story. I congratulate the Importer Exporter Association of Taipei for all of their hard work to better unite the regions of Taipei and Atlanta.”
As he signed the MOU connecting the IEAT and Atlanta, Huang said it was interesting for him to think about how much Atlanta and Taipei have in common. “The Metro Atlanta Chamber has a long history of 159 years of experience and outstanding achievement. It is the largest business representation group, and its members include such industrial leaders as AT&T, UPS and Bank of America. On the other hand, the IEAT is only half (the Chamber’s) age. We are just 72 years old, still quite young!”
However, he quickly added, IEAT is the biggest trade association in Taiwan. “We run 29 committees that serve 6,000 members who come from different industries. Most of our organizations have a long history and represent all sectors of the economy. “
Of all the things Atlanta and Taipei share in common, the most striking to him, he said, is a strong desire to raise the prosperity and the well-being of their communities. “All the visitors who have come here from Taipei share one purpose, that is connectivity. Taipei Mayor Ko and his delegation are visiting Atlanta to stay connected, and the IEAT delegation is here to create new connections. We all look forward to enhancing trade and business connectivity in the new-found partnerships. I am delighted to have this opportunity to make new friends in Atlanta, and am excited about making this new connection to do business in the United States.”
What better time to take advantage of that opportunity, Hung added, than against the backdrop of the sister city anniversary. Signing the MOU in presence of the Taipei mayor, he said, gave the MOU a special meaning. After an exchange of gifts – a golden orchid from Huang and the IEAT to Hartnett to symbolize cooperation and a golden opportunity and from the Chamber an Atlanta United scarf for Huang and an ATL baseball cap for Mayor Ko – John Woodward, senior director of Foreign Investment for the Chamber’s Global Commerce Council, gave the visiting Taipei chief executive the last word.
“Come to Taipei for (city’s famous) night market,” he said to applause and cheers.
Tom Oder is an award-winning Atlanta-based journalist who is the founder and principal of Worldwide Editing, a writing and editing firm with a global focus that tells the stories of businesses and nonprofits and the people who make them successful.
